HEADMASTER OF EVERSDAL PRIMARY – January 2012
(Headmaster at Paarl Boys’ Primary: 1997-2011 ; Head of Department at Durbanville Primary School: 1989 – 1996)
A strong focus on balanced modern educational practices in Eversdal Primary is strong on his priority list. The creation of a learning environment for the modern Learner and support to the modern Parent and close interaction between parent, educator and learner is of utmost importance.
He has formulated most of his educational beliefs through studies in Curriculum Delivery, own experience and extensive studies of Education in other parts of the world. He believes that no school is an island where “own” practices are cultivated to protect what a school believes is inherent its “own” special circumstances.
Although he believes that schools do have “own” special circumstances, the experience shows that these are often devices/reasoning to cling to old and outdated practices. The children in schools today will compete for jobs and contracts in an international arena in future – much more than is already applicable.
He has gained a lot of insight and knowledge in visits to schools and educational conferences abroad:
- 2001 ENGLAND: 1 Week visit to numerous schools (Private and State Schools)
- 2001 COPENHAGEN (Denmark): 6th IFIP World Conference on Computers in Education
- 2003 HONG KONG: International Conference in Computers on Education (ICCE2003
- 2005 STELLENBOSCH (SA): 8th IFIP World Conference on Computers in Education
- 2008 MILAN (Italy): World Computer Conference
- 2008 RIEBEECK KASTEEL: a talk on the “Administrative use of Computers from the perspective of a School Principal”.
- 2009 ENGLAND & SCOTLAND: Guest of APPLE Europe – The Use of Apple Computers in Schools
- 2009 LONDON (UK): Seminar on the various uses of the Apple Iphone in Education
- 2010 LONDON (UK): Seminar on the various uses of the Apple IPAD2 in Education
Balance between ACADEMICS, SPORT AND CULTURE (values and norms) – a central component of his educational Vision
Many Schools are fast adapting to more modern learning methodologies, but the knowledge, skills and changed management processes of teachers in general is still lacking – not enough time, money and effort is spent on teacher training in this regard. Most schools still invest in “COMPUTER SPECIALISTS” and ignore the importance of the class teacher in engaging with his students in class every day in a world in which they (our learners) are already operating.
Computer centre’s are fast becoming ghosts of the past – the international trend is to deploy as many as possible learning devices in the classroom – for immediate access to information – teachers will have to learn how to deal with this.
“It is not about the technologies, networks or computers you have in your school – it is about the information that flows through these devices and how we as educators help and teach our students to use this information in giving them the necessary skills to compete in the world in which they will have to enter soon.” ANON
Henk is married to Gretchen Arangies and has four children: JW Marais; Mia Arangies; Janie Arangies; Jean-Pierre Marais.